Is it time to test?

[topper]

I think you hit the nail on the head when you mentioned the kill plants. I don't think we have to ask them anything. The government will just pass a law that every animal over 30 months gets tested and that's all that's to it. They might however refuse to butcher this type of animal which is what they are doing right now anyway. We are probably going to have to build more kill plants in this country and also a lot of extra storage to hold the beef until the tests are done. It for sure is not going to be an easy thing to do, but probably is the right thing to do.

[Bruce14]

Grassfarmer I had to almost laugh when you asked if anyone had run this past the kill plants.

Who would you expect to put up the most resistance to increased testing except them. With the packers enjoying the situation of the last few months (I am giving them a loss in the first 2-3 following May 20th) they would certainly be dragging their feet on any changes.

HEY!!! Maybe the Japanese would like to invest some more money in Canada. They have some here already in other industries, why not set up a Japanese plant to produce Beef for their market? They could even inspect it themselves.

[cakadu]

enough - testing should be done for all diseases that pose a risk.

BSE is one such risk, but there are food borne diseases such as e-coli, salmonella, listeria and such that pose far more significant health risks every day.

The statistics on these types of food borne illnesses are staggering.

I remember several years ago hearing a food safety expert talk about what we DID NOT know about e-coli. He said that what we do know is just the tip of the iceberg and as we get more sophisticated in our testing, we will be amazed.

Back in the mid 1990's I remember when scrapie became a problem in some parts of the world and in Eastern Canada I believe it was. That caused many plants to not take animals over 1 year of age - which created monumental problems in the sheep and goat industries. I'm not sure that we want to see that kind of difficulty arise in the beef industry.

Testing is great and I would like to see it. What would make me more comfortable is knowing that it would be third-party, arms length from any organization and the costs not downloaded onto producers.

[topper]

Good idea on the Japanese beef plants Bruce14!!

[countryguy]

I am all for testing every animal and would even be willing to foot the bill for it.If we could get our old export markets back and maybe even some that the USA lost it would be worth every penny.If you could make your cows worth fifty cents a pound versus the ten cents they are now just by testing them wouldn't you do it?Pretty good return on investment if you ask me.

[cowman]

Bruce 14: I like that idea of the Japanese plants! I just bet that would make Cargill and IBP sweat, as well as the old boys at R-CALF?
I wonder if our government has ever thought to invite them over to build a plant? Or our cattle associations?
If you ever want to run for government or the CCA I'm going to vote for you!

[Bruce14]

Thanks for the vote of confidence Cowman. Wouldn't it be priceless to be a fly on the wall and see Senator Dorgan or some of the R-calf boys with their morning papers read an announcement of a joint Japanese/Canadian kill plant in Canada?

There would be cornflakes flying then.

;-)

[grassfarmer]

Nice idea guys but as far as I know the Japanese are one of the most protectionist countries in the world and are using BSE as an excuse to once again close their doors to imported beef. They don't really want our beef although they certainly have plenty "venture capital" to spare.

[Bruce14]

grassfarmer, there is already significant Japanese investment in Canada and I don't think they are opposed to making money.

The Japanese have had delegations in Australia already examining what they have to offer so I wouldn't dismiss any idea that may provide us a way out.

[cowman]

You know I wonder why the Japs never insisted the USA test their beef? Or Australia? I mean after all they have certain standards for all their own beef and you would think they could definitely have won any WTO case if they had insisted that all beef coming into their country meet those standards?
If we went to a mandatory test on everything I would expect our government to insist on all imports meet that standard? Do you think that would be reasonable?

[cowman]

One other thing. If it was Japanese owned and managed plant that tested every animal and had nothing to do with any other plant then the product would probably be accepted by Japan? In fact we could probably transfer the 10 acres or so that the plant was on to Japan. Declare it Japanese territory! I think IBP Lakeside tried to float that idea a few years ago? Make Lakeside an American plant and have USDA inspectors? It didn't wash at the time but maybe it is now an idea whose time has come?